Choose Life!Suicide PreventionFrequently Asked QuestionsAboriginal YouthThe Healthy Aboriginal Network- - - - - - -"Individual and cultural continuity are strongly linked, such that First Nations communities that succeed in taking steps to preserve their heritage culture, and work to control their own destinies are dramatically more successful in insulating their youth against the risks of suicide."Michael Chandler- - -
Honouring Life NetworkAboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Resources

"Study suggests that American Indians with strong levels of cultural spiritual orientations have relatively lower rates of self-reported, attempted suicide. It also highlights the need to develop culturally relevant spirituality measures in American Indian populations that go beyond the indicators used for Judeo-Christian faiths. The Cultural Spiritual Orientations Scale represents a first step in that direction."

January 9, 2003 - Young Aboriginal men in Northern British Columbia are reported to be among the highest number of those who take their own lives, according to the province's northern region coroner. Dave Coverdale says more people kill themselves each year than die in car crashes and says that it's time for communities to take action. Hanging, poison, and guns are the most common ways of committing suicide. Approximately 80 per cent of all gun deaths are suicides. Most of the victims are men, and many of them are young aboriginal men from northern B.C. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 - 24. Overall, Aboriginal suicide rates are typically higher than the rate for the
general population.

Suicide is a significant concern in many Aboriginal communities, is two to three times
more common among Aboriginal peoples and is also five to six times more prevalent
among Aboriginal youth than non-Aboriginal youth.

According to Aboriginal tradition, suicide was rare in Pre-colonialism times because it
was viewed as unacceptable. Those who did commit suicide were generally the sick or
elderly who felt they could no longer contribute to their community and their deaths were
perceived as acts of self-sacrifice. In First Nations communities today, suicide is more
common among the young and usually results from feelings of hopelessness and
despair.

The following factors are often linked to suicide:
continuous family disruptions and instability
family history of mental health problems
alcohol and/or drug abuse
physical and/or sexual abuse, and
extended periods of grief

Choosing Life: Special Report on Suicide Among Aboriginal People - - - Suicide rates, already five to six times higher among Aboriginal youth than their
non-Aboriginal peers, could increase dramatically over the next 10 to 15 years if
action isn't taken now. Changing demographics mean that the population bulge of
children, now under 15 years of age, will soon pass through the vulnerable years of
young adulthood.
In this special report, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
calls for a 10-year Canada-wide campaign to reduce the prevalence of suicide and
self-injury. The report states that communities hold the keys to change